Development of a Mexican online nutritional ecologic software for dietary assessment, automatic calculation of diet quality, and dietary environmental impact

Abstract

Nutritional tools for dietary assessment are crucial elements for nutritional and diet-related study methodologies. Environmental indexes such as water footprint (WF) are essential for assessing diets' environmental impact. Currently, no available software in Mexico and the world simultaneously allows the evaluation of diet and its environmental impact. This study aimed to design and develop a Mexican online nutritional ecologic software for dietary assessment, automatic diet quality calculation, and diet's environmental impact. The software was developed using the waterfall life cycle methodology. A multi-stage process was followed. The program includes diet evaluation through a 24-hour recall and a validated and adapted Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The software also integrates automatic calculation of diet quality through an adaptation of The Mexican Diet Quality Index (ICDMx): the Alternate Mexican Diet Quality Index (IACDMx). An automatic WF assessment for Mexico’s context was also included. The assessment accounts for multi and single-ingredient foods WF, cooking, food-washing water, and applying correction factors. We created Nutriecology®, a novel technology for assessing diet aspects and WF simultaneously, making data collection and analysis time efficient in transversal and longitudinal studies. Further environmental impact indices, clinic history, and socioeconomic elements will be added to the software in future actualizations.

Sustainable-psycho-nutritional intervention programme for a sustainable diet (the ‘NutriSOS’ study) and its effects on eating behaviour, diet quality, nutritional status, physical activity, metabolic biomarkers, gut microbiota and water and carbon footprints in Mexican population: study protocol of an mHealth randomised controlled trial

“…For the assessment of diet quality, an adaptation of the validated Mexican Diet Quality Index (ICDMx) will be used (67) , which is the Alternate Mexican Diet Quality Index (IACDMx). This is automatically calculated in the Nutriecology® software (68) by responding a validated adapted FFQ (online Supplementary Material Table SM1.6.1) (6,69) , which will be administered to each participant by the nutritionist of the study (not self-reported). Food replicas, pictures, cups and spoons will be used as reference for portions intake estimations.…”

“…Those include the intake of Mexican foods and dishes, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, dairy products, seeds and healthy fats, eggs, fish and seafood, chicken, beef, pork, goat, lamb and processed meats, ultra-processed foods, and added and free sugars, and trans and saturated fats. Their consumption will be evaluated through a 24-h recall administrated by the nutritionist in the Nutriecology® software (68) , which provides automatic nutritional composition calculations. Tools for portion estimations will also be used (i.e.…”

“…Besides, the calculations are adjusted for consumption amount using conversions factors for production, edible portion, cooking losses and gains, and food losses and waste (52) . Calculations will be performed in the Nutriecology® Software (68) . P.2.2) Eco-friendly, local seasonal foods P.2.2.1) Change from baseline dietary water footprint (total, green, blue and grey) at weeks 8 and 15.…”

“…Also, water involved in cooking and food washing will be evaluated. Calculations will be performed using the Nutriecology® Software (68) .…”

“…1) (6,69,70) already applied to assess diet quality and dietary intake. Nutrient calculation will be performed using the Nutriecology® software (68) . S.1.2) Well-being and health S.1.2.1) Clinical data S.1.2.1.1) Change from baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure at weeks 8 and 15, assessed with a Medstar® sphygmomanometer following the Mexican normativity (98) ; S.1.2.1.2) Change from baseline acanthosis nigricans at weeks 8 and 15 (as a clinical sign of insulin resistance), evaluated by physical exploration, searching for hyperpigmentation and thickening of the skin with velvety in visible flex areas (axilla, anterior ulnar area, and posterior and lateral region of the neck) (99) .…”